U.S. patent application number 10/195361 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-23 for waterproof low insertion force connector.
Invention is credited to Sawayanagi, Masahiro.
Application Number | 20030017739 10/195361 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19049791 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030017739 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sawayanagi, Masahiro |
January 23, 2003 |
Waterproof low insertion force connector
Abstract
A waterproof low insertion force connector includes a lever for
fitting a male and a female connector to each other by its rotating
operation and an elastic grommet for waterproofing the connectors.
The lever has auxiliary flanges and the grommet has an engagement
portion to be engaged with the auxiliary flanges when both
connectors are completely fit to each other. The connector 3 has a
flange 11 formed integrally to its housing 8. When both-connectors
are completely fit to each other The auxiliary flanges and the
flange are flush with each other, and the engagement portion is
engaged with the flange and the auxiliary flanges. The grommet is
provided with an interference portion with the grommet at the tip
of the lever. In this configuration, incomplete fitting of a
waterproof connector and inadvertent coming-off thereof can be
prevented.
Inventors: |
Sawayanagi, Masahiro;
(Shizuoka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG,WESTERMAN & HATTORI, LLP
1725 K STREET, NW.
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
19049791 |
Appl. No.: |
10/195361 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/357 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/5202 20130101;
H01R 13/743 20130101; H01R 13/641 20130101; H01R 13/62933
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/357 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/627 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 16, 2001 |
JP |
2001-215087 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A waterproof low insertion force connector comprising: a lever
for fitting a male and a female connector to each other by its
rotating operation; and an elastic grommet for waterproofing the
connectors, wherein said lever has an auxiliary flange and said
grommet has an engagement portion to be engaged with the auxiliary
flange when both connectors are completely fit to each other.
2. A waterproof low insertion force connector according to claim 1,
wherein one of said connectors has a flange formed integrally to
its housing, and when both connectors are completely fit to each
other, said auxiliary flange and said flange are flush with each
other and said engagement portion is engaged with said flange and
said auxiliary flange.
3. A waterproof low insertion force connector according to claim 1,
wherein said lever is provided with an interference portion with
said grommet at the tip of the lever, and said interference portion
is projected in a direction vertical to a connector fitting
direction when both connectors are not still completely fit to each
other, and situated in the connector fitting direction as a result
of its rotation when both connectors have been completely
fixed.
4. A waterproof low insertion force connector according to claim 2,
wherein said lever is provided with an interference portion with
said grommet at the tip of the lever, and said interference portion
is projected in a direction vertical to a connector fitting
direction when both connectors are not still completely fit to each
other, and situated in the connector fitting direction as a result
of its rotation when both connectors have been completely fixed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a waterproof low insertion force
connector which fits both male and female connectors to each other
by an rotation operation of a lever and includes an elastic grommet
to make waterproof of the connectors.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIG. 4 shows an example of an waterproof low insertion force
connector.
[0005] In a low insertion force connector 41, with a slider 43
slidably attached to a female connector 42 in a direction vertical
to a connector fitting direction and a following projection 46
corresponding to a cam groove 45 of the slider 43 attached to a
male connector 44, both connectors 42 and 44 are fit to each other
with low insertion force by the pushing operation of the slider
43.
[0006] The fitting operation by the low insertion force is
particularly efficient in the case where there are a large number
of terminals in the connectors 42 and 44. In this case, a plurality
of male terminals are accommodated in the female connector 42, and
the front half tab- or pin-like electric contact of each of the
male terminals is projected into a connector fitting chamber 47 at
the front half of the female connector 42. The male terminals are
crimp-connected to electric wires 48, respectively. The electric
wires 48 are bundled by a vinyl tape to constitute a wire
harness.
[0007] A plurality of female terminals are accommodated in the male
connector 44. The female terminals are crimp-connected to electric
wires 49, respectively. The electric wires 49 also constitute a
wire harness. In this specification, the connector having the
connector fitting chamber 47 is referred to as a female connector
42, whereas the connector to be inserted or fit in the connector
fitting chamber 47 is referred to as a male connector 44.
[0008] The connector housings 51 and 52 of both connectors 42 and
44 and the slider 43 of the female connector 42 are made of
synthetic resin. The slider 43 is formed in a shape of a
rectangular plate. The slider 43 is provisionally locked by a
provisional locking means such as a projection in a state where it
has been slightly inserted in the connector fitting chamber 47 from
a slit-like opening 50 on the outer wall of the connector housing
51.
[0009] A cam groove 45 of the slider 43 is recessed in a
longitudinal direction from the tip side of the slider 43. The cam
groove 45 is composed of an opening 53 at the starting side
opposite to the front opening of the connector fitting chamber 47,
a slope 54 sloping in the connector fitting direction from the
opening 53 and a short locking straight portion 55 at the
terminating side of the slope 54.
[0010] The following projection 46 which is formed in a shape of a
short cylinder is attached to the inner wall of the male connector
housing 52 so as to correspond to the cam groove 45. The male
connector housing 52 has a left and right terminal fitting chambers
(represented by 52). The following projection 46 is located in the
slit-like spacer advancing space between both terminal fitting
chambers 52.
[0011] The female connector housing 51 has locking arms 56 on the
outer wall. The locking arms 56 are engaged with the periphery of
the hole 58 of a panel 57 of e.g. a motor vehicle. The panel 57 is
sandwiched by the locking arms 56 and the flange 59 at the rear of
the female connector housing 51 so that the female connector 42 is
locked.
[0012] A waterproof rubber grommet 60 is fit over the flange 59 and
its front end is in intimate contact with the rear surface of the
panel 57. This prevents water from invading the hole 58 of the
panel 57. The wire harness (represented by 48) is passed inside the
grommet 60. The end on the smaller diameter side of the grommet 60
is fixed to the wire harness 48 by winding of vinyl tape. The
female connector 42 including the slider 43, male connector 44 and
grommet 60 constitute a waterproof low insertion force connector
41.
[0013] As the panel 57, a panel such as a door for a motor vehicle,
slide door, etc. is employed. The above low insertion force
connector 41 is used to connect the electric appliance or auxiliary
machine within the door to a battery power source on the side of a
vehicle body.
[0014] As seen from FIG. 4, with the female connector 42 secured to
the panel 57 and the slider 43 provisionally locked in a state to
be projected long in an extracting direction, the connector 44 is
initially fit in the connector fitting chamber 47. Thus, the
following projection 46 advances into the opening 53 on the
starting side of the slider 43. In this state, the slider 43 is
strongly pushed into the female connector 42 so that the following
projection 46 is pulled along the cam groove 45 in the connector
fitting direction. Simultaneously, the male connector 44 is
inserted/fit into the female connector 42. The slider 43 is
completely locked in the connector housing 51 by the locking means
such as the locking arm 61.
[0015] However, in the above waterproof low insertion force
connector 41, in order to make connector fitting with low insertion
force, the gradient of the cam groove 45 of the slider 43 must be
set gently and the length thereof must be set long. Therefore, the
slider 43 becomes lengthy so that the female connector 42 becomes
large in the width direction, and the area required for the female
connector 42 to be attached to the panel 57 is increased. Further,
while the motor vehicle runs, the locking of the slider 43 is
released owing to vibration or shock so that the slider 43 may move
in a coming-off direction and the fitting between both connectors
42 and 44 may be loosed, thereby making electric connection
incomplete.
[0016] The present invention intends to provide a water-proof low
insertion force connector which can prevent an increase in the size
of a connector and its attaching area due to the presence of a
slider, surely fit the connector with low insertion force and
prevent inadvertent looseness or coming-off of connector fitting
due to vibration or shock of a motor vehicle to assure good
electrical connection.
[0017] In order to attain the above object, in accordance with this
invention, there is provided a waterproof low insertion force
connector comprising:
[0018] a lever for fitting a male and a female connector to each
other by its rotating operation; and
[0019] an elastic grommet for waterproofing the connectors, wherein
the lever has an auxiliary flange and the grommet has an engagement
portion to be engaged with the auxiliary flange when both
connectors are completely fit to each other.
[0020] In accordance with the above configuration, both connectors
are fit to each other by the rotating operation of the lever so
that the space required to operate the lever is reduced as compared
with the conventional slider and force-boosting effect is improved.
The auxiliary flange is engaged with the engagement portion of the
grommet when both connectors have been completely fit to each other
so that the lever is fixed and the rotation of the lever in a
returning direction is stopped. Therefore, the inadvertent
looseness and coming-off of both connectors is prevented. Where
both connectors are incompletely fitted to each other, the
auxiliary flange is not fit in the engagement portion of the
grommet and causes the grommet to swell outwardly so that the
grommet cannot be mounted smoothly. In addition, since the an
operator becomes aware of abnormality of the appearance,
half-fitting (incomplete fitting) is detected. Further, since the
lever is fixed by the elastic grommet, undue force does not act on
the lever, the deformation or damage of the lever is prevented and
engagement/positioning of the auxiliary flange in the engagement
portion can be easily performed.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, one of the connectors has a
flange formed integrally to its housing, and when both connectors
are completely fit to each other, the auxiliary flange and the
flange are flush with each other and the engagement portion is
engaged with the flange and the auxiliary flange.
[0022] In accordance with this configuration, after both connectors
have been completely fit to each other by the rotating operation of
the lever, in order to mount the grommet, the engagement portion of
the grommet is engaged with the flange of the connector housing. In
this case, the auxiliary flange of the lever is also engaged with
the engagement portion and the grommet is locked to the connector
housing by the flange and the lever is locked to the grommet by the
auxiliary flange. In this way, the grommet is positioned on the
connector housing with no rattle and hence the lever is precisely
locked to the grommet with no shift. The return of the lever is
surely stopped. Where both connectors have been incompletely fit to
each other, the auxiliary flange of the lever stops smooth mounting
of the grommet. Thus, the incomplete fitting of both connectors can
be detected.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the lever is provided with an
interference portion with the grommet at the tip of the lever, and
the interference portion is projected in a direction vertical to a
connector fitting direction when both connectors are not still
completely fit to each other, and situated in the connector fitting
direction as a result of its rotation when both connectors have
been completely fixed.
[0024] In accordance with this configuration, when the connectors
are incompletely fit to each other, the interference portion at the
tip of the lever interferes with the grommet so that the grommet
cannot be mounted. Thus, incomplete fitting of the connectors can
be detected. When both connectors have been completely fit to each
other, the lever is situated in the connector fitting direction as
a result of its rotation so that the lever is accommodated with no
interference within the grommet.
[0025] The above and other objects and features of the invention
will be more apparent from the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a
waterproof low insertion force connector according to this
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the waterproof low insertion
force connector in the state where a male connector has been fit in
a female connector fixed to a panel by a rotating operation of a
lever;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the water proof insertion
force connector in the state where a waterproof elastic grommet is
mounted at least in a male connector;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional waterproof low
insertion force connector.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] An explanation will be given of an embodiment of this
invention.
[0031] FIGS. 1 to 3 shows an embodiment of a waterproof low
insertion force connector according to this invention.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, a waterproof low insertion force
connector 1 includes a male connector 3 having a rotary lever 2 for
fitting with low insertion force, a female connector 6 having
sloped guide grooves 5 which correspond to protrusions 4 for
pushing the lever 2 and an elastic rubber grommet 7 which covers at
least the male connector 3.
[0033] The male connector 3 is composed of a connector housing 8
which is made of synthetic resin, female terminals (not shown) each
fixedly inserted in each of terminal chambers 9 in the connector
housing 8 and the lever 2 which is made of synthetic resin which is
rotatably pivoted onto both left and right side walls 10 of the
connector housing 8.
[0034] The male connector 8 has a flange 11 integrally formed at
the rear end. The flange 11 is recessed in its approximate half on
the side from which the lever projects. Recesses 12 recess the
flange 11 to the plane flush with each of the left and right side
walls 10 of the connector housing 8. The flange 11 also projects
from the side of the connector housing 8 opposite to the side from
which the lever 2 projects. In this specification, the connector
fitting direction is referred to as the front side, whereas the
connector removing direction is referred to as the rear side.
[0035] The lever 2 is formed in a -shape by a pair of left and
right body segments 14 which are rotatably supported by a shaft 13
at the approximate centers of both side walls 10 of the connector
housing 8 and an operation segment 15 which couples the pair of
body segments 14 at their tips. The projection 4 for pushing is
formed at a position close to the one side of a wide planar area 16
at the base side of each body segment 14. The projections 4 are
apart from the shaft 13. Square-plate-like auxiliary flanges 18 are
formed in narrow areas 17 successive to the wide areas 16. Each
projection 4 projects outwardly and vertically from the surface of
the body segment 14.
[0036] The auxiliary flange 18 is consistent with the recess 12 of
the flange 11 of the male connector housing 7 when the lever has
been rotated, and flush with the flange 11.
[0037] A square-plate-like projection (interference segment) 19 is
protruded from the center of the operation segment 15 of the lever
12. The projection 19 is protruded over a length in contact with
the front end face 21 of the elastic grommet 17 at the position of
the lever 2 shown in FIG. 1 where the lever 2 is protruded
vertically from the one wall of the connector housing 8.
[0038] The grommet 7 in this embodiment has a groove (engaging
portion) 22 to be mated with the flange 11 and auxiliary flanges 18
in the inner face in the intermediate position in an axial
direction. The groove 22 is formed in a square shape so as to
correspond to the outer peripheral shape of the flange 11. The
grommet 7 may be shortened in the axial direction from the state of
FIG. 1 so that the groove 22 is formed inside the front end of the
grommet 7.
[0039] The grommet 7 shown in FIG. 1 is formed in a length so as to
cover both male and female connectors 3 and 6 completely in a state
where they are fit to each other. The grommet 7 is equipped with a
lip (represented by numeral 21) at the front end. The lip 21 is to
be in intimate contact with a panel 23 shown in FIG. 2. A wire
harness (composed of a plurality of wires) 25 of the male connector
3 is derived from a hole 24 at the rear end of the grommet 7. In
the state shown in FIG. 1, the grommet 7 is movable along the wire
harness in the axial direction.
[0040] The female connector 6 includes a connector housing 26 which
is made of synthetic resin and male terminals (not shown) housed in
the connector housing 26. The connector housing 26 has a flange 28
at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of an
outer peripheral wall 27 and a pair of locking arms 29 which
project from both side walls 27a in front of the flange 28. The
locking arms 29 each has a locking step 30 at the tip. The locking
step 30 is oriented outwardly. As seen from FIG. 2, the flange 28
is in contact with the rear surface of e.g. a motor vehicle. The
locking arms 29 are engaged with the edges of holes 31 of the panel
23 and the panel 23 is sandwiched by the flange 28 and locking arms
29 so that the female connector 6 is locked.
[0041] As shown from FIG. 1, a pair of guide grooves 5 which
correspond to the projections 4 for pushing the lever are formed on
the inner wall 33 of the connector fitting chamber 32 which is the
front half of the female connector housing 26. Each guide groove 5
extends from the front opening of the connector fitting chamber 32
so as to slope in an arc in the projecting direction at the initial
position of the lever 2 shown in FIG. 1. The internal width of the
guide groove 5 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the
projection 4 so that the projections 4 for pushing can advance
smoothly in the guide grooves 5, respectively.
[0042] The internal width of the connector fitting chamber 32 in a
horizontal direction is slightly larger than the distance between
the outer surfaces of the pair of body segments 14 of the lever 2.
Therefore, the male connector 8 as well as the lever 2 can be
inserted into the connector fitting chamber 32. The female
terminals (not shown) within the connector housing 26 are
crimp-connected to the electric wires, respectively, which
constitute a wire harness 34. The male connector housing 8, lever 2
and male terminals (not shown) constitute the connector 3, whereas
the female housing 26 and female terminals (not shown) constitute
the connector 6. Both connectors 3 and 6 and elastic grommet 7
constitute a waterproof low insertion force connector 1.
[0043] As seen from FIG. 2, when the female connector 6 is inserted
in the hole 31 of the panel 23 of the door of a motor vehicle from
the rear side of the panel 23, the panel 23 is sandwiched between
the locking arm 29 and flange 28 so that the female connector 6 is
locked to the panel 23. Next, the male connector 3 is initially fit
into the female connector (in the state where the tip of the male
connector 3 is slightly inserted into the entrance of the connector
fitting chamber 32 but the male and female terminals are not still
brought into contact with each other). In this state, the lever 2
is rotated from the horizontal position toward the direction of
removing the connector 6 (rearward).
[0044] As the operation of rotating the lever 2 proceeds, while the
projections 4 for pushing advance into the sloped guide grooves 5
of the female connector 6, they are brought into contact with the
sides 5a of guide grooves close to the front end of the connector
housing 26 so that the male connector 3 is pushed out toward the
female connector 6 in the fitting direction. Thus, both connectors
3 and 6 are smoothly fit to each other by low insertion force. When
the rotating operation of the lever 2 is completed, the lever 2 is
situated vertically upright toward the direction of removing the
connector as shown in FIG. 2. The auxiliary flanges 18 of the lever
2 are horizontally flush with the flange 11 within the recesses 12
of the flange 11 of the male connector housing 8. The operation
segment 15 of the lever 2 is located substantially in parallel to
and in contact or proximity to the wire harness derived from the
male connector 3.
[0045] In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, while the male and female
connectors 3 and 6 are covered with the waterproof grommet 7 which
is advanced along the wire harness 25, the internal groove 22 of
the grommet 7 is integrally engaged with the flange 11 and
auxiliary flange 18. Namely, the flange 11 and auxiliary flange 18
are simultaneously fit in the internal groove 22. The lip 21 at the
front end of the grommet 7 is brought into intimate contact with
the surface of the panel 23.
[0046] Since the auxiliary flanges 11 are fit in the internal
groove 22 of the grommet 7, the lever 2 is fixed immovably thereby
stopping the return of the rotation of the lever. Thus, the
inadvertent return of the lever 2 due to the vibration or shock of
the motor vehicle is stopped. Further, inadvertent fitting
looseness or coming-off of the connectors 3 and 6 is prevented and
reliability of the electric connection between the connectors 3 and
6 is improved.
[0047] Further, where the fitting between both connectors 3 and 6
is incomplete, the lever 2 inclines so that the auxiliary flanges
18 and the flange 11 are not flush with each other. Namely, the
lever 11 is slightly deviated toward the connector fitting
direction. Therefore, when the grommet 7 is mounted as shown in
FIG. 3, the internal groove 22 of the grommet 7 interferes with the
auxiliary flanges 18 and the corresponding portion of the grommet 7
swells out outwardly so that the grommet 7 cannot be mounted
smoothly. In addition, since the appearance is abnormal, an
operator becomes aware of abnormality of the connector fitting.
Accordingly, incomplete connector fitting can be prevented.
[0048] Further, as described above, where the fitting between both
connectors 3 and 6 is incomplete, the lever 3 inclines. Therefore,
when the grommet 7 is mounted, the projection 19 at the tip of the
lever 2 interferes with the front end 21 or inside of the grommet 7
so that the grommet 7 cannot be eventually mounted. This also
permits the abnormality of the connector fitting to be detected by
an operator. Thus, supply of the product with poor connector
fitting can be prevented. As seen from FIG. 2, when both connectors
3 and 6 have been completely fitted to each other, the lever 2 is
situated upright in the axial direction so that the grommet 7 can
be smoothly mounted without interfering with the lever 2.
[0049] In FIG. 3, with the length of the grommet 7 shortened to
half and the groove 22 formed circumferentially inside the front
end of the grommet 7, the lip 21 at the front end of the grommet 7
can be brought into contact with the front end 35 of the female
connector housing 26.
[0050] In accordance with this embodiment, by employing the rotary
lever 2 in place of the conventional slider which moves straight
(FIG. 4), force boosting effect is increased within a smaller space
so that the waterproof low insertion force connector can be
miniaturized. Further, as long as both connectors 3 and 6 are not
completely fit to each other, the grommet 7 cannot be combined with
the flange 11 and auxiliary flanges 18. Therefore, the incomplete
rotation operation of the lever 2, i.e. half-fitting between both
connectors 3 and 6 can be detected. Further, by combining the
grommet 7, the rotation of the lever 2 can be restrained so that
the lever 2 is locked and double fit-locking (where the lever 2 is
equipped with locking means when the connectors are completely fit)
can be realized.
[0051] This invention should not be limited to the embodiment
described above, but is applicable to e.g. a structure where the
one connector 6 is not locked to the panel 23, both connectors 3
and 6 are fit to each other by the operation of the lever 2 and are
waterproofed with the grommet 7. Further, in FIG. 1, a lever (2)
may be rotatably provided inside the female connector housing 26.
In this case, the lever (2) may be rotated toward the male
connector 3 so that auxiliary flanges (18) of the lever (2) are
flush with the flange 11 of the male connector housing 8. The
projections (4) for pushing are provided inside the lever (2).
Slits (not shown) for releasing the lever are formed in the female
connector housing 26.
[0052] A projecting portion composed of e.g. a plurality of
projections, which serves as an engaging portion, may be provided
in place of the groove 22 of the grommet 7. In this case, the
flange 11 and auxiliary flanges 18 are between the plurality of
projections. The interfering portion (projection 19) of the lever 2
can be formed in any shape. Only the auxiliary flanges 18 may be
engaged with the groove 22 of the grommet 7. In this case, in FIG.
2, the direction of the auxiliary flanges 18 may be not horizontal
but vertical.
[0053] Incidentally, the contents of Japanese Patent Appln. No.
1-215087 filed on Jul. 16, 2001 are hereby incorporated by
reference.
* * * * *